Half marathon hat trick
Rhalou ends her half marathon hat trick with a little help from her friends
Thursday, 29 September, 2011
It’s been an emotional month and the tide is rising. I’ve read so damn many heartwarming, honest, raw and touching blogs over the past few days that I’m overwhelmed and fear I couldn’t possibly do race day justice with mere words, but I will do my best. I decided to take on a half marathon hat trick when I was feeling reckless. I knew it would be physically challenging for me, as I’m a journalist and not an athlete, but I didn’t realise quite how emotional the whole process would be. I feel like I’ve lived a whole lifetime in a month and learned more about myself in four weeks than the past four years. 
Rhalou with two of her RDC foxes Muireann Carey-Campbell and Elle HankinsonPushing my little legs hasn’t actually been the hardest part; curiously I don’t ache one iota and feel like I could keep on running until I dropped off the edge of the world. It’s my heavy heart that’s weighing me down. I feel overwhelmed! Running is an emotional business. Many of us find running at important crossroads in our lives (or perhaps running finds us?) and so, along with the peaks and troughs of training, race days, injuries and the associated baggage of being a runner, there’s a top soil of several layers of additional emotion. We want to succeed for reasons that outweigh the burden of the road. Running represents change, new beginnings, new challenges, teamwork and self-exploration. I’ve learned more about myself on the open road since I took up running than at any other time in my life. I’ve learned what I’m capable of, what I really care about, what my weak spots are, and most of all I’ve reaffirmed my faith in human kindness thanks to the endless support, love and encouragement from other runners. (Don’t believe me? Join a running club, you’ll see). For a solo sport based on the performance of two little legs, I’ve come to rely heavily on the strength of hundreds more. Running is a dish best served with friends. Without my running crew, amazing colleagues and crazy boyfriend, I suspect I’d have ended my love affair with running long ago. Run To The Beat on Sunday was hard. It was really hot. I was tired. I gave up the ghost at mile three and shuffled round, coming in at 2.10. I was gutted not to beat my PB and get sub two. But on reflection, I rediscovered some interesting things about myself last Sunday that far outweigh speedy race times. Gloria was right in the film White Men Can’t Jump when she said, ‘Sometimes when you win, you really lose, and sometimes when you lose, you really win, and sometimes when you win or lose, you actually tie, and sometimes when you tie, you actually win or lose. Winning or losing is all one organic mechanism, from which one extracts what one needs.’ On Sunday I technically lost (although I was only racing myself) but in so many other ways, I won. It was the first event I’ve attended with my friends at the Run Dem Crew. There was about 40 of us in total, including the Youngers project, in which Charlie Dark and the crew mentored a gang of 17-21 year olds around their first half marathon in only three months. For more info on this visit www.rundemcrewyoungers.tumblr.comWords cannot describe the feeling of knowing you have a 40-strong crew of people running with you. Before we even set off, my running crew were fussing over me and looking out for me. I had friends applying sun cream, helping me lace up my race chip, reminding me to drink lots and generally being amazing. (There are too many names to mention, but you all know who you are. I am madly in love with each and every one of you). As soon as the race started I lost most of them immediately, but saw lots of smiling faces along the way, including a fab cheerleading section, and I literally ran across the finish line straight into the arms of two of my lovely Run Dem friends. Then afterwards we all celebrated together. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to enter a race without a massive crew to look after me and hug me at the end now. They made the day extra special and reaffirmed my faith in the universe. Seeing the Youngers project pan out and watching running shape the future of 13 young people was also an absolute joy. I’m also delighted to have one of the (now graduated) Youngers Mike on board at Men’s/Women’s Running HQ as our new intern. Look out for Mike's work on Men's Running.So what did I learn in my half marathon hat trick? For a start, don’t run three hot half marathons in a row and expect to get a PB every time. Race day is physically and mentally tough and unless you’re prepared to quit your job and wave goodbye to your social life, if you’re human, you’re going to struggle. But having a good time is much, much more important than beating your best time and thanks to my amazing Run Dem family, I've just had the best summer a runner could ask for. Never underestimate the importance of friends. I’m taking a little bit of time off from events to recharge my batteries, but I’m not stopping completely! I’m off to Scotland tonight for my first experience of trail running with the amazing Marko, I’ll let you all know next week how I survive in the wilderness...
Rhalou with two of her RDC foxes Muireann Carey-Campbell and Elle HankinsonPushing my little legs hasn’t actually been the hardest part; curiously I don’t ache one iota and feel like I could keep on running until I dropped off the edge of the world. It’s my heavy heart that’s weighing me down. I feel overwhelmed! Running is an emotional business. Many of us find running at important crossroads in our lives (or perhaps running finds us?) and so, along with the peaks and troughs of training, race days, injuries and the associated baggage of being a runner, there’s a top soil of several layers of additional emotion. We want to succeed for reasons that outweigh the burden of the road. Running represents change, new beginnings, new challenges, teamwork and self-exploration. I’ve learned more about myself on the open road since I took up running than at any other time in my life. I’ve learned what I’m capable of, what I really care about, what my weak spots are, and most of all I’ve reaffirmed my faith in human kindness thanks to the endless support, love and encouragement from other runners. (Don’t believe me? Join a running club, you’ll see). For a solo sport based on the performance of two little legs, I’ve come to rely heavily on the strength of hundreds more. Running is a dish best served with friends. Without my running crew, amazing colleagues and crazy boyfriend, I suspect I’d have ended my love affair with running long ago. Run To The Beat on Sunday was hard. It was really hot. I was tired. I gave up the ghost at mile three and shuffled round, coming in at 2.10. I was gutted not to beat my PB and get sub two. But on reflection, I rediscovered some interesting things about myself last Sunday that far outweigh speedy race times. Gloria was right in the film White Men Can’t Jump when she said, ‘Sometimes when you win, you really lose, and sometimes when you lose, you really win, and sometimes when you win or lose, you actually tie, and sometimes when you tie, you actually win or lose. Winning or losing is all one organic mechanism, from which one extracts what one needs.’ On Sunday I technically lost (although I was only racing myself) but in so many other ways, I won. It was the first event I’ve attended with my friends at the Run Dem Crew. There was about 40 of us in total, including the Youngers project, in which Charlie Dark and the crew mentored a gang of 17-21 year olds around their first half marathon in only three months. For more info on this visit www.rundemcrewyoungers.tumblr.comWords cannot describe the feeling of knowing you have a 40-strong crew of people running with you. Before we even set off, my running crew were fussing over me and looking out for me. I had friends applying sun cream, helping me lace up my race chip, reminding me to drink lots and generally being amazing. (There are too many names to mention, but you all know who you are. I am madly in love with each and every one of you). As soon as the race started I lost most of them immediately, but saw lots of smiling faces along the way, including a fab cheerleading section, and I literally ran across the finish line straight into the arms of two of my lovely Run Dem friends. Then afterwards we all celebrated together. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to enter a race without a massive crew to look after me and hug me at the end now. They made the day extra special and reaffirmed my faith in the universe. Seeing the Youngers project pan out and watching running shape the future of 13 young people was also an absolute joy. I’m also delighted to have one of the (now graduated) Youngers Mike on board at Men’s/Women’s Running HQ as our new intern. Look out for Mike's work on Men's Running.So what did I learn in my half marathon hat trick? For a start, don’t run three hot half marathons in a row and expect to get a PB every time. Race day is physically and mentally tough and unless you’re prepared to quit your job and wave goodbye to your social life, if you’re human, you’re going to struggle. But having a good time is much, much more important than beating your best time and thanks to my amazing Run Dem family, I've just had the best summer a runner could ask for. Never underestimate the importance of friends. I’m taking a little bit of time off from events to recharge my batteries, but I’m not stopping completely! I’m off to Scotland tonight for my first experience of trail running with the amazing Marko, I’ll let you all know next week how I survive in the wilderness...